Image processor with integrated printing

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for recording and generating images includes a printing unit. The printing unit includes a carrier that is dimensioned to approximate a PCMCIA memory card. A media supply is receivable in the carrier. A page width print head assembly is mounted in the carrier to print images on the media. The page width print head assembly includes at least one print head chip and a suitable printing microprocessor that is configured to control operation of the print head chip. An ink supply mechanism is operatively arranged with respect to the print head assembly to supply the print head assembly with ink. A media feed mechanism is positioned in the carrier to feed media to and from the print head chip. The apparatus includes an image recordal apparatus that includes a housing in which the carrier is received. The housing is dimensioned to define a sleeve for the carrier so that at least half the carrier is received in the housing. An image sensing device is positioned on the housing to sense an image to be generated. An image sensing microprocessor is positioned in the housing and is operatively arranged with respect to the image sensing device to control operation of the image sensing device. Both the printing unit and the image recordal apparatus have complementary releasable data connectors so that the image sensing microprocessor can communicate image data to the printing microprocessor of the printing unit.

REFERENCED US PATENTS/PATENT APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/942,601 filed on Aug. 31, 2001. U.S. patentapplication Ser. Nos. 09/436,509, 09/436,750, 09,113,053, 09/425,419 and09/922,105 are hereby incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] This invention relates to an image recordal and generationapparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The Applicant has developed print head assemblies that arecapable of generating images having a resolution of up to 1600 dpi.Furthermore, the print head assemblies that the Applicant has developedare of a relatively small size, allowing them to be incorporated into acamera-based device such as that described in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/113,053.

[0005] Details of such a print head assembly can be found in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/113,053. The relatively small size has beenlargely the result of the development of an ink jet print head that isthe subject of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/425,419.

[0006] The ink jet print head has allowed the Applicant to develop acompact portable printer that is directly engageable with a PCMCIA slotin a laptop or notebook computer. This compact portable printer is thesubject matter of the above referenced U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/436,509.

[0007] The Applicant has identified that it would be highly desirable toprovide an image recordal and generation assembly or apparatus that iscapable of generating the high-resolution images mentioned above and yetis of a size that is comparable to pocket sized cameras that arepresently available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] According to the invention, there is provided an apparatus forrecording and generating images, the apparatus comprising

[0009] a printing unit that comprises

[0010] a carrier that is dimensioned to approximate a PCMCIA memorycard, a media supply being receivable in the carrier;

[0011] a page width print head assembly that is mounted in the carrierto print images on the media, the page width print head assemblyincluding at least one print head chip and a suitable printingmicroprocessor that is configured to control operation of the print headchip;

[0012] an ink supply mechanism that is operatively arranged with respectto the print head assembly to supply the print head assembly with ink;and

[0013] a media feed mechanism positioned in the carrier to feed media toand from the print head chip; and

[0014] an image recordal apparatus that comprises

[0015] a housing in which the carrier is received, the housing beingdimensioned to define a sleeve for the carrier so that at least half thecarrier is received in the housing;

[0016] an image sensing device that is positioned on the housing tosense an image to be generated; and

[0017] an image sensing microprocessor that is positioned in the housingand is operatively arranged with respect to the image sensing device tocontrol operation of the image sensing device;

[0018] wherein

[0019] both the printing unit and the image recordal apparatus havecomplementary releasable data connectors so that the image sensingmicroprocessor can communicate image data to the printing microprocessorof the printing unit.

[0020] The invention is now described, by way of example, with referenceto the accompanying drawings. It is to be noted that the followingspecific description is for the purposes of illustrating a particularembodiment of the invention and the manner in which it is to beperformed and is not intended to limit the broad scope of the precedingsummary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] In the drawings,

[0022]FIG. 1 shows a three dimensional view of a printing unit of anapparatus, in accordance with the invention, for recording andgenerating images;

[0023]FIG. 2 shows a partially exploded view of a print media cartridgeof the printing unit of FIG. 1;

[0024]FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the printing unit of FIG. 1;

[0025]FIG. 4 shows a partly cut away view of a print head of theprinting unit of FIG. 1;

[0026]FIG. 5 shows a three dimensional view of the apparatus forrecording and generating images;

[0027]FIG. 6 shows a rear view of the apparatus of FIG. 5;

[0028]FIG. 7 shows the apparatus of FIG. 5 with the printing unitdetached from an image recordal apparatus;

[0029]FIG. 8 shows the apparatus of FIG. 5 with a print media cartridgedetached from the printing unit;

[0030]FIG. 9 shows a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 5, indicatingthe position of some of the components;

[0031]FIG. 10 shows a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 5 alsoindicating the position of some of the components; and

[0032]FIG. 11 shows a schematic block diagram indicating the variouscomponents of the apparatus of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally indicates anapparatus, in accordance with the invention, for recording andgenerating images.

[0034] The apparatus 10 includes a printing unit 12. The printing unit12 has a carrier 14 that is dimensioned so that the printing unit 12 issimilar in size to a PCMCIA memory card. In particular, the printingunit 12 is similar in size to a PCMCIA type III card. As is known,PCMCIA is an acronym for Personal Computer Memory Card InternationalAssociation that sets parameters for PC cards having various sizes. ThePCMCIA type III card has a typical size of approximately 86 mm inlength, approximately 54 mm in width and approximately 11 mm inthickness.

[0035] The carrier 14 includes an elongate, substantially rectangularsupport structure 16. The support structure 16 includes a body portion18 with a tray 20 positioned at one end of the body portion 18 and aPCMCIA-type connector 22 positioned at an opposed end of the bodyportion 18. A print head assembly 24 is mounted on the tray 20. Theprint head assembly 24 includes a print head 26 that is positioned tospan a printing region indicated generally at 28. The print headassembly 24 is shown in some detail in FIG. 4. The print head 26includes at least one print head chip 27 that is the product of anintegrated circuit fabrication technique. Furthermore, each print headchip is described in the above referenced U.S. patent application Ser.No. 09/425,419.

[0036] The print head 26 has an ink distribution arrangement 30 mountedthereon. The ink distribution arrangement 30 is described in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. (Docket No. YU140), which is incorporated herein byreference. The ink distribution arrangement 30 includes an ink storageand feed structure 29 in fluid communication with a channeling structure31. The channeling structure 31 is in fluid communication with the printhead chip 27 so that ink can be fed to the nozzle arrangements of theprint head chip 27. The ink storage and feed structure 29 includes apair of outer ink reservoirs 33 and a pair of rows of ink storagechannels 35 positioned between the outer ink reservoirs 33.

[0037] The channeling structure 31 includes a pair of rows of feedchannels 37. Each feed channel 37 is in fluid communication with arespective storage channel 35. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the ink storageand feed structure 29 and the channeling structure 31 together define aplurality of ink feed passages that gradually decrease in crosssectional area as they near the print head chip 27.

[0038] The print head assembly 24 includes control circuitry in the formof a microprocessor 32, mounted on the tray 20. Details of a suitablemicroprocessor are provided in the above referenced U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/113,053.

[0039] The print head assembly 24 further includes a motor 34 that isdrivingly connected to a gearbox 36. Operation of the motor 34 and thusthe gearbox 36 is also controlled by the microprocessor 32. A primaryfeed roller 38 is positioned on an infeed side of the printing region 28and is connected to the gearbox 36 to be driven by the gearbox 36. Asecondary feed roller 40 is positioned on an outfeed side of theprinting region 28.

[0040] The support structure 16 includes a base member 42. The basemember 42 includes a feed plate 44 that has a pair of opposed side clips46 and a front clip 48 positioned thereon. The side clips 46 serve toengage side walls 50 of the body portion 18 and a front side 52 of thetray 20.

[0041] A pair of spaced retaining clips 54 are positioned on a rear side56 of the feed plate 44 to engage complementary formations 58 defined oneach side of the PCMCIA-type connector 22.

[0042] The printing unit 12 includes a cover member 60 that is mountableover the print head assembly 24 to protect the print head assembly 24.

[0043] A media supply cartridge in the form of a paper sheet cartridge62 is mountable on the body portion 18. A supply 64 of paper sheets, oneof which is indicated at 66, is receivable in the cartridge 62. Thecartridge 62 includes a backing plate 68 against which the supply 64 ispositioned, in use. Each of a pair of side walls 70 extends from arespective major side of the backing plate 68. A rear cover 78 ismounted on the backing plate 68 and the side walls 70. Further, a frontcover 80 is also mounted on the backing plate 68 and the side walls 70.As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, a retaining clip 84 is positioned on afeed end 82 of the backing plate 68. The retaining clip 84 is configuredto retain the paper supply 64 in the cartridge 62 as the sheet 66 is fedfrom the supply 64 into the printing region 28.

[0044] The backing plate 68 defines a pair of urging members 86. Theurging members 86 are biased so that when the supply 64 is positioned inthe cartridge 62, the supply 64 is biased towards the feed plate 44. Thefront cover 80 and the cover member 60 have complementary engagingformations 88 which allow the cartridge 62 to be urged into engagementwith the cover member 60. In this position, the primary feed roller 38is positioned to engage the sheet 66 so that when the primary feedroller 38 rotates, the sheet 66 is drawn into the printing region 28.The cover member 60 and the tray 20 together define an outfeed slot 89from which printed sheets are fed.

[0045] The various components of the printing unit 12 are indicatedschematically in FIG. 11. As can be seen, the PCMCIA-type connector 22is connected to the microprocessor 32 with a suitable data bus indicatedat 90. The data bus 90 also serves to connect the microprocessor 32 tothe print head 26. Thus, image data received by the PCMCIA-typeconnector 22 can be communicated to the microprocessor 32 which can thencontrol operation of the print head 26 to generate an image on the papersheet 66.

[0046] The apparatus 10 further includes an image recordal apparatus 92.The image recordal apparatus 92 includes a housing in the form of asleeve 94 in which the printing unit 12 is received up to the covermember 60. As can be seen in the drawings, this means that approximatelytwo thirds of the printing unit 12 is received in the sleeve 94.Further, the cover member 60 and its respective portion of the feedplate 44 is dimensioned to correspond, transversely, with transversedimensions of the sleeve 94. It follows, therefore, that the apparatus10 has overall dimensions that are in the region of one third largerthan a type III PCMCA-type card. It will readily be appreciated that anarticle of this size can easily be carried in a pocket of a garment.

[0047] The image recordal apparatus 92 has a viewfinder 96 positionedthereon. The viewfinder 96 includes an eyepiece 98 through which aviewer can target an image to be recorded. A camera lens 100 ispositioned proximate the viewfinder 96 and is configured to provide afocused image of that which is to be recorded. The camera lens 100 ispositioned in front of a CMOS-based image sensing device that, in thisexample, is in the form of an active pixel sensor 102.

[0048] The active pixel sensor 102 is connected to a microprocessor 104with a suitable data bus 106. The interaction of these components canreadily be seen in FIG. 11.

[0049] The data bus 106 also serves to connect the active pixel sensor102 to a memory storage device 108.

[0050] Operation of the image recordal apparatus is by way of a cameraactuating button 110 that is depressed by a user in a conventionalmanner. The actuator button 110 is connected to the microprocessor 104so that, upon actuation, the processor 104 communicates a command signalto the active pixel sensor 102 to capture the desired image. Datacarrying this image is then stored in the memory storage device 108.

[0051] Operation of the printing unit 12 is by way of a printeractuating button 120 that is connected to the printing microprocessor32. The microprocessor 32 actuates operation of the print head assembly24 when the button 120 is depressed so that the recorded image can beprinted.

[0052] Details of the operation of the image recordal apparatus are setout further in U.S. application Ser. No. 09/113,053, incorporated above.It follows that further details of the operation of the image recordalapparatus will not be described in this specification.

[0053] The image recordal apparatus 92 includes a complementaryPCMCIA-type connector 112 that is positioned in the sleeve 94 to engagethe PCMCIA-type connector 22 when the printing unit 12 is inserted intothe image recordal apparatus 92.

[0054] The data bus 106 also serves to connect the microprocessor 104and the memory storage device 108 to the complementary PCMCIA-typeconnector 112 so that data relating to the captured image can be sent tothe microprocessor 32 of the printing unit 12.

[0055] Both the printing unit 12 and the image recordal apparatus 92include a PCMCIA connector interface 124 to control the transfer of dataacross the PCMCIA-type connectors 22, 112.

[0056] A battery indicated at 114 received within the sleeve 94 providesenergy for the operation of the various components of the apparatus 10.A battery cover 116 is provided to secure the battery 114 in the sleeve94. Opposed minor side walls 122 of the sleeve 94 have guide formations118 defined therein. The side walls 50 of the body portion 18 areslideably received in respective guide formations 118 to facilitateinterconnection of the printing unit 12 and the image recordal apparatus92.

[0057] The Applicant believes that the invention provides a meanswhereby a compact image recordal device or camera incorporating aprinter can be achieved. In particular, the device is only betweenapproximately 30 and 40 per cent larger than a PCMCIA type III memorycard. This has been perceived by the Applicant to be a significantadvantage based on the popularity of pocket-sized cameras.

We claim:
 1. An apparatus for recording and generating images, includinga printing unit and an image recordal apparatus, said printing unitincluding a carrier that includes a portion that conforms to thedimensions of an industry standard computer accessory card, a mediasupply being receivable in the carrier; a pagewidth printhead assemblymounted on the carrier to print images on the media, the pagewidthprinthead assembly including at least one printhead chip and a printingmicroprocessor that is configured to control operation of the printheadchip; an ink supply that supplies the printhead assembly with ink; andthe carrier includes a media feed mechanism that feeds media to and fromthe printhead chip; and the image recordal apparatus including a housingin which the carrier is received, the housing being dimensioned todefine a sleeve for the carrier; said housing includes an image sensingdevice; and said housing includes an image sensing microprocessor thatcontrols operation of the image sensing device wherein both the printingunit and the image recordal apparatus have complementary releasable dataconnectors so that the image sensing microprocessor can communicateimage data to the printing microprocessor of the printing unit.
 2. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the carrier includes anelongate, substantially rectangular support structure, with the pagewidth print head assembly and the ink supply mechanism being mounted onan end portion of the support structure and the media feed mechanismbeing positioned intermediate the end portion and a remaining portion ofthe support structure.
 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in whichthe carrier includes a media cartridge that is releasably mounted onsaid remaining portion of the support structure.
 4. An apparatus asclaimed in claim 3, in which the media cartridge is configured to holdsheets of media.
 5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which themedia feed mechanism is in the form of a roller feed mechanism that isconfigured to be engageable with a lowermost sheet of media in thecartridge when the cartridge is positioned on the support structure. 6.An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the printing unit includesa data bus connected across the complementary data connector of theprinting unit, the printing microprocessor, the print head assembly andthe media feed mechanism.
 7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, inwhich the image sensing device is in the form of a CMOS device thatdefines an active pixel sensor.
 8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1,in which the image recordal apparatus includes a data bus connectedacross the image sensing device, the image sensing microprocessor andthe complementary data connector of the image recordal apparatus.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein said industry standard computer accessorycard is a PCMCIA standard card.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein atleast half of said carrier is receivable in the housing.
 11. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the data connectors of theimage recordal apparatus and the printing unit are both in the form ofPCMCIA-type connectors.